2026 Aspirnaut Summer Research Internship Program at U-M

Description

ABOUT

The Aspirnaut Summer Research Internship at U-M strives to expand interest in basic life sciences research for high school students. Aspirnaut is a six-week residential program on U-M's Ann Arbor campus where interns are immersed in a hands-on science laboratory experience to explore life as a professional scientist. Interns assist with real science projects and gather results that contribute to cutting-edge research. At the end of the experience, interns present their work to the public and to our community of scientists. We recruit from all communities across Michigan, including rural and socioeconomically under-resourced communities.

The 2026 program schedule will run from June 15th through July 24th. Move-in will be June 14th, 2026. 

 

BENEFITS
Interns will receive payment in the amount of $3000.00 to participate in the program, which will be divided into three payments over the course of the program.

Interns will be provided with housing in a residence hall on campus and meals at a campus dining facility (three meals Monday-Friday and two meals on Saturday and Sunday).

 

REQUIREMENTS
Interns are required to be present and on campus for the duration of the program. Absences for non-health or non-emergency related reasons are not permitted.

Interns are responsible for providing transportation to and from the program.

Interns are required to have health insurance coverage for the duration of the program.

 

LIFE ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS
Housing is provided in a campus residence hall and the program plans on double occupancy (shared rooms).

Over the course of the summer, interns will have opportunities to interact in social and professional activities with participants in other summer high school programs while exploring our beautiful campus in downtown Ann Arbor.

Interns will also have access to university resources such as campus recreation facilities and the student health service.

 

COLLEGE, CAREER, AND CULTURAL PREPARATION AND ENRICHMENT
Interns will benefit from professional development and enrichment opportunities. These include individualized meetings with mentors, preparation for standardized tests, college advising, networking opportunities with scientists in a world-class research environment, as well as cultural and social activities.

 

A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT
Interns are supervised by research supervisors, undergraduate resident advisors and program staff. The university’s policies and procedures for hosting minors on campus promote a safe and supportive environment for participants.

Consistent with those policies, the Aspirnaut Summer Research Internship Program at U-M follows an established Code of Conduct. Its faculty, staff (including student employees), and volunteers submit to criminal background screening, complete required training, and adhere to all applicable reporting obligations. For more detailed information, please refer to the university’s “Policy on Minors Involved in University-Sponsored Programs or Programs Held in University Facilities.”

The Aspirnaut Summer Research Internship Program at U-M is modeled after a very successful program started by two faculty members at Vanderbilt University. Learn more about the original Aspirnaut program, which continues as an independent non-profit based in Nashville.


BEYOND THE PROGRAM
While this is a six-week summer program, our goal is to help students pursue their dreams of enrolling in college and pursuing educational and career opportunities in the sciences. If a participant is later admitted to the University, additional university resources may also be available, like the Go Blue Guarantee, which provides four years of free tuition to admitted, in-state students from households earning less than $125,000 per year & with under $125,000 in assets.

"It has made me mature as an individual and appreciate everything others do for me. I also learned I am smarter than I thought and anything can be accomplished if you really try hard.” – Aspirnaut participant, M.G

Qualifications

The program is open to rising seniors in the state of Michigan. Interns must be 16 years of age or older by the start of the program.  There will be at least six interns in the 2026 cohort.

An excellent academic record and participation in a wide range of extracurricular activities are highly regarded but are not the sole criteria for the selection process.